Recording device for determination of the time of death of mice used in experimentalresearch



Aug. 17, 1954 R DEWGNAT 2,686,705

' RECORDING DEVICE FOR DETERMINATION OF THE TIME OF DEATH OF MICE USED IN EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH Filed June 20, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. RENE DE vIP AT Aug. 17, 1954 R. DEVIGNAT 2,586,705 RECORDING DEVICE FOR DETERMINATION OF THE TIME OF DEATH OF MICE USED IN EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH Filed June 20, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z2 /7 j 1 I Q Fr f fil HI H1 l E "HI" I In '1 1111 mm II [III llllll INVENTOR.

RENE DEv/e/v -r- Aug. 17, 1954 R. DEVIGNAT 2,636,705

RECORDING DEVICE FOR DETERMINATION OF THE TIME OF DEATH OF MICE USED IN EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH Filed June 20, 1950 3 Sheets-sheet 3 INVENTOR. RENE DEws/YAT' a M, Z 753 Patented Aug. 17, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECORDING DEVICE FOR DETERMINATION OF THE TIME OF DEATH OF MICE USED IN EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH Rene Devignat, Regissa-Marchin, Belgium Application June 20, 1950, Serial No. 169,098 Claims priority, application Belgium July 14, 1949 stant presence of the experimentalist or of an assistant.

According to the invention, the deviceorap- -paratus mainly comprises a board or diagram sheet for continuous recording under clockwork control and a cage with a series of small individual recesses or pigeon-holes each one of which will accommodate a mouse. Within each of said recesses is a feeding pan and a member which is resiliently and vertically movable according to the movements of the animal in the recess. An index or tracing needle is also provided, the movement of which is dependent upon the movement of said resilient members, said movement being recorded on said board or on a' diagram sheet.

Details and further features of my inventionwill appear from the description" of appended drawings in which Fig. l is a front view of the recording board or diagram sheet with a continuous displacement under clockwork control.

Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively a back view and front view of the'cage with a series of recesses, said front being disposed with indexes or'tracing needles described hereinafter, opposite and facing the board of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatictop view of a recess, together with the parts comprised therein, ready to accommodate a mouse under observation.

Figs. to 8 are section along lines V-V to VIII-VIII of Fig. 4.

Similar parts bear similar reference numbers in the variousfigures.

The recording device shown in Fig. 1 comprises a base 2 made of heavy wood or metal. On this base, a fixed frame 3is mounted comprising two upright members and a transversal horizontal member at the top. On this transversal member, a clockwork system. such as an alarm domestic clock system is supported.

The hour needle spindle comprises a cylindrical pulley 4 on which a cable 5 is wound. The hour needle is fixed at the rear of said pulley and by a support or member 6 connected to the upper transversal member of the fixed frame 3 is mountedto the front end of the pulley.

After a lapse of time or a certain number of hours, the revolutions of the pulley together with the hour needle, will free a length of cable 5.

To this cable there is suspended a movable frame I carrying a board or sheet 8 on which the graphi al record of the movements of the in their recesses will be recorded.

According to a feature of the invention, this board or sheet comprises a glass plate which has been coated with carbon black on which a stylus or pointed needle will record their displacements whilst the board is continuouslymoving downwards.

This smoked board can be removed from the movable frame l in order to be examined by transparency or against a white background in order to see the records of the'stiletto and said board can be exchanged for a fresh similar one, when the first board has arrived at the end of its downward course.

Thereafter the fresh board is wound up to its upper end course, if all the mice are not dead, this ending the experiment.

The weight of frame l and board 2 is practically compensated by counterpoises 9 connected to movable frame i by cables i0 over pulleys ii carried by fixed frame 3.

The counterpoises 9 are chosen so that the slight overweight of frame and board will ensure its downward progress without any acceleration of the clockwork.

Movable frame 'I comprises four laths for example in wood or metal, comprising two hooks E2 and laterally two bolt members as for maintaining and removing the recording board 8.

The upper lath l is connected'to the end of cable 5 and the lateral laths are connected by cable to the counterpoise 9'. Upper and lower laths of frame l have each two'small rings at the back which slide vertically on metal rods [4; Those rods are themselves threaded through holes in the fixed frame 3 and introduced at the bottom in holes in base 2. Those rings and rods l4 serve to guide the board in its vertical movements. Preferably said rods M- are removable and can be withdrawn from above.

Thanks to the clockwork, the board and its mobile frame slowlydescend and by proper regulation and correct choice of diameter of pulley 5 this movement can be set at for example 10 cm. in 24 hours.

This device is the recording member proper of the apparatus according to the invention.

On base 2 are further fixed two L-shaped members facing one another and between which will be fitted the base of a cage with numerous recesses for mice.

This cage (Figs. 2 and 3) comprises for instance, six stories of eight individual cages, recesses or pigeon-holes of practical sizes as regards handling, cleaning, etc. recesses can of course be varied.

The cage comprises an outer frame 56. In

This number of side which is facing recording board 3 of Fig. 1, the frame it? carries upright members ll, which include means on their inner sides for supporting the fioors of the six stories. The means may comprise, for example, grooves IS in members I"! for supporting glass plates 13 as shown in the vertical section Fig. 6.

Between two plates l8 forming the floor and ceiling of a story, partitions or side walls 253, for instance also made of glass plates are fitted in vertical grooves of members [1. These partitions form the walls of each recess of a story which in the example described comprises eight recesses per story.

Members I! are for instance screwed on the upper and lower horizontal planks of the cage v frame It.

At the back (Fig. 3) the recesses shaped as cubicles are closed by crossed blades, for instance also of glass. horizontal and held in place by two vertical members such as 22 fixed on the lateral members of frame I6. Another set of blades 23 are fitted vertically and removable in order to facilitate cleaning and placing of the interior mechanism of the recesses. They are introduced from above in the free space between the recesses, the back members H and horizontal blades 2| (Fig. 3) and form one end wall of the recesses or cages.

The bottom ends of blades 23 are fitted into grooves in the lower transversal board of frame [6.

At the front (Fig. 2) the recesses are also closed by a series of vertical glass blades 24 forming the other end wall of the cages and each one of which concerns a vertical row of six recesses.

At the top, the blades 24 are held by a locking member such as an L-shaped hinge 25, the horizontal branch of which carries a pivot and in the vertical branch 2. slot engaging a blade 24. A vertical row of six recesses can in this manner he opened or closed by a single operation. Airing of recesses is ensured by the spaces left by the front and back closing blades.

The contents of a recess are shown diagra i-- matically in Fig. 4 and some parts are further shown in Figs. 2, 3, 5, '7 and 8.

Figs. 2 and 3 show the contents in a perspective view and diagrammatic sections are shown Figs. 5, 7 and 8. The contents comprise three sets of members and accessories.

The first set includes a rule or rulers 26 for example an aluminium rule which is located laterally against the lateral wall 29 and between back and front members l1. At a story of uneven number (first, third and fifth) these rules are placed against the right wall and at the even stories (second etc.) against the left wall.

Those rules (Fig. are held in place by a thin blade such as a zinc blade introduced under wall and curved back in adjacent recess behind this wall 2!] as at '21 (Fig. 5).

The rule members 26 carry a vertical small blade as shown at 28 (Fig. 4), and which serves to limit, towards the front of the cage, that is towards the front in Fig. 2, the displacements of a mobile board or plate described hereinafter.

Behind blade 28, two metallic wires 29 in a resilient metal preferably made of stainless steel are introduced perpendicularly in the rule at a slight distance above the floor of the recesses and as shown Fig. 5, these wires 29 are slightly bent upwards in such a manner that their free ends are without support located over the floor of the recesses.

One set of blades 2| are fixed and Secondly, the contents of each recess comprises a mobile plate 30, resting on the two springs or bent wires 29. This plate is also preferably a thin glass plate the form of which is shown Figs. 3 and 4. The back angle or first corner, close to the small rule is provided with an angular rod 3|. The other back angle or second corner at 32 is biased to prevent contact with corresponding member IT. The angular rod 3i, made of thin stainless and rustproof metal, comprises a U-shaped part which can be engaged and firmly fixed on the longitudinal side of the mobile plate. This engagement can be made secure by a small quantity of glue such as texacoat.

The back of rod 3| is shaped as a flat lamella, which protrudes out of the recess by the lower corner, under the back horizontal closure blade El and next to vertical closure blade 23.

A pointed needle or stylus is attached to the back portion of rod 3!, in order to translate by a horizontal movement resulting in a horizontal tracing, the resilient movements of mobile plate 36 when the mouse moves on the plate.

The pointed needle or stylus 33 comprises at the base, two parts connected by a horizontal axis 34 which plays the part of a pivot (Fig. '7). A member 35 is L-shaped and its horizontal branch is firmly held or otherwise fixed to the back portion of rod 3!, preferably in a removable manner. The mobile part of the stylus 33 can move forwards and backwards about the axis 34. Said mobile part comprises a triangle shaped member 36 in thin metal and a rigid wire, needle or stylus stretching along the side or the right-angle of said triangle shaped member. At the upper stories the stylus has the necessary length to be contacted with the recording board when it starts to move downwards, and styluses on last or lower stories are longer for the same purpose.

Finally and third, the contents of each recess, further comprise a feeding pan or small rectangular basin 3'1 which contains the daily pasty food and requisite amount of food. In front, this basin (Fig. 8) comprises a metallic fold 38 which allows the basin to be hooked to the fioor of the recess. Unhooking is impossible when the front vertical closing plate is in place and the mouse is unable to carry the pan or basin towards the back of the recess, which could interrupt working of recording mechanism.

The device operates as follows:

Each movement of each mouse in its recess causes the stylus corresponding to said recess to produce a horizontal trace on the recording board. The lateral amplitude depends on sizes and for normal sizes can attain 1 cm. Supposing the board runs down mm. in 24 hours, if a mouse moves once in a quarter of an hour, the recording board will be marked on the corresponding vertical millimeter.

Further, the height of the recesses being practically equal to the length of styluses, alternating location of these from story to story prevents any overlapping of records. The longer stilettos of the lower stories will write their records between those of upper stories.

When the mouse in a recess is dead, the stylus remains still and it is easy to determine the moment of its death in a hundredth of a day by measuring the length of hatched tracing, in millimeters since the beginning of the day. If a bi ological experiment lasts from 6 to '7 days, the recording device must be wound up, each day, at the same time. removed from the front of smoked board, by

In order to do this, the cage is means of handles 3.9 (Fig. 2),. A fresh smokedboard is inserted, cable is wound again round pulley 4 of he, clockwork device and: the cage is again lodged between members [5; in front of the recording board. This interruption only-lasts a few minutes and will not, be noticeable-on the! recording board.

Afterwards, blades 24 are removed one by one, in order to clean the recesses 31, put in the daily food, remove remnants etc, which could prevent a, normal working of moblie plates 30 and this. cleaning can for instance be realised by means of a small scraper. Basins or pans 3'! are put in place again and the device does not require further attendance until next day.

At the end-of an experiment, it is easy to completely clean, the cage by removal from the front of the recording board, washing in a sink, with a brush and water-jets. After drying the device is ready for a new experiment,

Obviously any sizes, materials and number of members can be used without departingfrom the scope of the invention. The recording boar: can be made of a sheet of glazedpaper, with a carbon blacl: coating, which can after record.- ing be fixed and definitely preserved in the usual manner by. an alcohol solution of glue. Plain and ruled paper can also be. used, the stilettos being inked, or pencil-ended.

What I claim is:

1. A device for recording the movements of small animals in captivity, comprising, in combination, a cage having a floor and a side wall; a plate arranged above said floor of said cage; means for pivoting said plate to the lower edge of said side wall of said cage; an extension connected to said plate and having a part arranged outside said cage; a stylus connected to said part of extension being outside said cage; a recording sheet arranged for cooperation with said stylus; and means for imparting to said sheet a motion at a constant speed, whereby the movements of the animal inside said cage cause oscillating motions of said plate about the: pivot thereof which are transferred by said extension to said stylus which records the movements on said sheet as a wave-shaped curve.

2. A device for recording the movements of small animals in captivity, comprising in combination, a cage having a floor and a side wall; a plate arranged above said floor of said cage; means for pivoting said plate to the lower edge of said side wall of said cage; an extension connected to said plate and having a part arranged outside said cage; a stylus arranged outside said cage; a pivotal connection between said stylus and said part of said extension being outside said cage; a recording sheet arranged for cooperation with said stylus; and means for imparting to said sheet a motion at a constant speed, where by the movements of the animal inside said cage cause oscillating motions of said plate about the pivot thereof which are transferred by said extension to said stylus which records the movements on said sheet as a wave-shaped curve.

3. A device for recording the movements of small animals in captivity, comprising in combination, a cage having a floor, and end walls and a side wall; a plate arranged above said floor of said cage adjacent to said end wall and covering substantially the total width of said floor of said cage, said plate having a corner adjacent to said side wall and said end wall of said cage; means, for pivoting said plate to the lower edge of said side wall of said cage; an extension connected to said plate nearsaid; cornerthereof and having a part arranged outside said cage beyond said end wall thereof;v a stylus connected to said part of said extension being outside said cage; a recording sheet arranged for cooperation with said stylus; and means for imparting to sheet a motion at a constant speed, whereby the movements of the animal inside said cage cause oscillating motions of said plate about the pivot thereof which are transferred by said extension to-said stylus. which records the movements on said sheet as a wave-shaped curve.

4. A device for recording the movements of small animals in captivity, comprising in combination. a cage, having a floor, and end walls and a side wall; a plate arran ed above said floor of said cage adjacent to, said end wall and covering substantially the total width of said floor of said cage, said plate having a corner adjacent to said side wall and said end wall of said cage; means for pivoting said plate to the lower edge of said side wall of said cage; an extension connected to said plate near said corner thereof and having a part arranged outside said cage beyond said end wall thereof; a stylus arranged outside said cage; a pivotal connectionbetween said stylus and said part of said extension being outside said cage; a recording sheet arranged for cooperation with said stylus; and means for imparting to said sheet a motion at a constant speed, whereby the movementsv of the animal inside said cage cause oscillating motions of said plate about the pivot thereof which are transferred by said extension to said stylus which. records the movements on said sheet as a wave-shaped curve.

5. A device for recording the movements of small animals in captivity, comprising in combination, a. cage having a floor, an end wall and a side wall; a ruler arranged adjacent to the loot tom edge ofsaid side wall of said cage; a plate arranged above said floor of said cage adjacent to said end wall and. covering substantially the total width of said floor of said cage, said plate having a corner adjacent to said ruler and said end wall of said cage; a plurality of resilient supports for said plate, said supports extending at right angles to said ruler and being attached to the same so as to form a pivotal connection for said plate about said ruler; an extension connected to said plate near said corner thereof and having a part arranged outside said cage beyond said end wall thereof; a stylus connected to said part of said extension being outside said cage; a recording sheet arranged for cooperation with said stylus; and means for imparting to said sheet a motion at a constant speed, whereby the movements of the animal inside said cage cause oscillating motions of said plate about the pivot thereof which are transferred by said extension to said stylus which records the movements on said sheet as a wave-shaped curve.

6. A device for recording the movements of small animals in captivity, comprising in combination, a cage having a floor, an end wall and a side wall; a ruler arranged adjacent to the bottom edge of said side wall of said cage; a plate arranged above said floor of said cage adjacent to said end wall and coverin substantially the total width of said floor of said cage, said plate having a corner adjacent to said ruler and said. end wall of said cage; a plurality of resilient supports for said plate, said supports extending at right angles to said ruler and being attached to the same so as to form a pivotal connection for said plate about said ruler; an extension connected to said plate near said corner thereof and having a part arranged outside said cage beyond said end wall thereof; a stylus arranged outside said cage; a pivotal connection between said stylus and said part of said extension being outside said cage; a recording sheet arranged for cooperation with said stylus; and means for imparting to said sheet a motion at a constant speed, whereby the movements of the animal inside said cage cause oscillating motions of said plate about the pivot thereof which are transferred by said extension to said stylus which records the movements on said sheet as a waveshaped curve.

'7. A device for recording the movements of small animals in captivity, comprising in combination, a cage having a floor, an end wall. and a side wall; a ruler arranged adjacent to the bottom edge of said side wall of said cage; a plate arranged above said floor of said cage adjacent to said end wall and covering substantially the total width of said floor of said cage, said plate having a first corner adjacent to said ruler and said end wall of said cage, and a second corner arranged opposite to said first corner, said second corner being biassed; a plurality of resilient supports for said plate, said supports extending at right angles to said ruler and being attached to the same so as to form a pivotal connection for said plate about said ruler; an extension connected to said plate near said first corner thereof and having a part arranged outside said cage beyond said end Wall thereof; a stylus connected to said part of said extension being outside said. cage; a recording sheet arranged for cooperation with said stylus; and means for imparting to said sheet a motion at a constant speed, whereby the movements of the animal inside said cage cause oscillating motions of said plate about the pivot thereof which are transferred by said extension to said stylus which records the movements on said sheet as a wave-shaped'curve.

8. A device for recording the movements of small animals in captivity, comprising in combination, a frame including a plurality of boxlike cages arranged in horizontal rows and vertical columns, each of said cages having a floor, a first side wall, a second side wall and an end wall; a plurality of rulers associated, respectively. with said cages and arranged, respectively, adjacent to the bottom edge of one of said side walls of said associated cages, said rulers in said cages arranged in one of said horizontal rows being arranged adjacent to said first side walls of said cages and said rulers in said cages arranged in the next lower one of said horizontal rows being arranged adjacent to said second side walls of said cages; a plurality of plates arranged, respectively, above said floors of said cages adjacent to said end wall and covering substantially the total width of said floors of said cages, each of said plates having a corner adjacent to said ruler and said end wall of said associated cage; a plurality of wire-shaped supports for each of said plates, said supports extending at right angles to said associated ruler and being attached to the same so as to form pivotal connections, respectively, for each of said plates about said associated ruler; a plurality of extensions connected, respectively, to said plates near said corners thereof and having, respectively, parts arranged outside said cages beyond said end walls thereof; a plurality of styluses connected, respectively, to said parts of said extensions being outside said cages; a recording sheet arranged for cooperation with said styluses; and means for imparting to said sheet a motion at a constantspeed, whereby the movements of the animals inside said cages cause oscillating motions of said plates about the pivots thereof which are transferred, respectively, by said extensions to said styluses which record the movements on said sheet as wave-shaped curves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 387,936 West Aug. 14, 1888 478,016 OKelly June 28, 1892 1,513,811 Heinold Nov. 24, 1924 

